Configurable ic with interconnect circuits that have select lines driven by user signals

ABSTRACT

Some embodiments of the invention provide a configurable integrated circuit (“IC”). The IC includes a first set of circuits and a second set of circuits interspersed among the first set of circuits. Each set of circuits includes at least ten volatile configurable circuits. Several circuits in at least one of the sets are user multiplexers. Each particular user multiplexer has input and output terminals and has a set of select terminals for receiving a set of user-design signals that directs the particular multiplexer to connect a set of the input terminals to a set of the output terminals. The user-design signals are signals generated internally by the IC.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed towards configurable integratedcircuits with interconnect circuits that have select lines driven byuser signals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of configurable integrated circuits (“IC's”) has dramaticallyincreased in recent years. One example of a configurable IC is a fieldprogrammable gate array (“FPGA”). An FPGA is a field programmable ICthat has an internal array of logic circuits (also called logic blocks).These logic circuits are connected together through numerousinterconnect circuits (also called interconnects). The logic andinterconnect circuits are surrounded by input/output blocks.

Like some other configurable IC's, the logic circuits and interconnectcircuits of an FPGA are configurable. A configurable logic circuit canbe configured to perform a number of different functions. Such a logiccircuit typically receives input and configuration data. From the set offunctions that the logic circuit can perform, the configuration dataspecifies a particular function that the logic circuit has to perform onthe input data. A configurable interconnect circuit connects a set ofinput data to a set of output data. Such a circuit receivesconfiguration data that specify how the interconnect circuit shouldconnect its input data to its output data.

FPGA's have become popular as their configurable logic and interconnectcircuits allow the FPGA's to be adaptively configured by systemmanufacturers for their particular applications. However, existingFPGA's as well as other existing configurable IC's do not provide robustmultiplexer functionality. Specifically, the select lines ofmultiplexers in existing IC's are typically tied to memory cells thatstore configuration data. Hence, these multiplexers cannot be controlledby signals internally computed by the logic circuits of the IC's. This,in turn, limits the use of multiplexers in configurable IC's toapplications that do not need to make the multiplexing choices based oninternally computed IC signals.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for configurable IC's that usenovel multiplexer circuits that can be controlled by signals internallycomputed by the IC's. There is also a need in the art for configurableIC's that have novel architectures that use such multiplexer circuits.There is further a need for configurable IC's that have devices that cantake advantage of such novel multiplexer circuits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Some embodiments of the invention provide a configurable integratedcircuit (“IC”). The IC includes a first set of circuits and a second setof circuits interspersed among the first set of circuits. Each set ofcircuits includes at least ten volatile configurable circuits. Severalcircuits in at least one of the sets are user multiplexers. Eachparticular user multiplexer has input and output terminals and has a setof select terminals for receiving a set of user-design signals thatdirects the particular multiplexer to connect a set of the inputterminals to a set of the output terminals. The user-design signals aresignals generated internally by the IC.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features of the invention are set forth in the appendedclaims. However, for purpose of explanation, several embodiments of theinvention are set forth in the following figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an interconnect circuit.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a multiplexer.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a configurable four-to-one multiplexerthat receives configuration data from a set of storage elements.

FIG. 4 illustrates a configurable logic circuit.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a configurable node array that includesconfigurable nodes that are arranged in rows and columns.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a connection between two circuits.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of another connection between twocircuits.

FIG. 8 illustrates a full UMUX.

FIG. 9 illustrates a hybrid UMUX.

FIG. 10 illustrates that some embodiments place the UMUX's between thecircuits of a circuit arrangement according to no particular pattern.

FIG. 11 illustrates that some embodiments place UMUX's between thecircuits according to a particular pattern that repeats across theentire circuit arrangement or a portion of the arrangement.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example where a number of UMUX's that aredispersed between the circuits of a circuit arrangement, form anarrangement of their own.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of arranging UMUX's in two arrays thatare dispersed between the circuits of a circuit arrangement.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a UMUX that is positioned in anarrangement of circuit elements.

FIG. 15 illustrates a circuit arrangement having logic circuits,interconnect circuits, and UMUX's.

FIG. 16 illustrates an example of a circuit in a configurable IC'scircuit arrangement that includes complex logic circuits that are formedby multiple logic and interconnect circuits.

FIG. 17 illustrates an example of “supering” multiple logic circuitsthat use of UMUX's.

FIG. 18 illustrates one such prior configurable circuit arrangement.

FIG. 19 illustrates a configurable circuit arrangement that includesnumerous configurable interconnect circuits, UMUX's, and logic circuits.

FIG. 20 illustrates an example of using UMUX's to write data to anon-configurable memory array in a configurable circuit arrangement.

FIG. 21 illustrates the use of UMUX's to implement circuit arrangementswith configurable shift operations.

FIG. 22 illustrates an example of a circuit arrangement that includesnumerous logic circuits, interconnect circuits, and HUMUX's.

FIG. 23 illustrates an example of a circuit arrangement with numerouslogic circuits and routing interconnect circuits.

FIG. 24 illustrates a circuit arrangement that has numerous logiccircuits and interconnect circuits arranged in numerous rows andcolumns.

FIG. 25 illustrates a two-input multiplexer that receives variables “b”and “c” on its input lines and variable “a” on its select line.

FIG. 34 illustrates that the multiplexer can perform the AND function byrouting a binary 0 to its second input.

FIG. 27 illustrates that routing a binary 1 to the multiplexer's firstinput, allows the multiplexer to perform the OR function, which is oneof the NPN equivalent functions of the AND function.

FIG. 28 illustrates a two-input multiplexer that implements an XORfunction.

FIG. 29 illustrates an example of an HUMUX that has a core multiplexerthat operates like the multiplexer of FIGS. 25-27 as it receives theuser signal “a” through the select multiplexer

FIG. 30 illustrates another example of an HUMUX that has a coremultiplexer that operates like the multiplexer of FIG. 28 as it receivesthe user signal “a” through the select multiplexer.

FIG. 31 illustrates a recursive process that a synthesizer can performto decompose a function.

FIG. 32 illustrates an eight-to-one HUMUX that is formed by fourmultiplexers.

FIG. 33 illustrates a multiplexer that is used as the multiplexer inFIG. 32.

FIG. 34 illustrates a CPL implementation of a two-tier multiplexerstructure for generating the second signal S1 and its complement.

FIG. 35 illustrates an example of the signals CLK, ST0, and ST1.

FIG. 36 illustrates a circuit implementation of the combined multiplexerstructure.

FIG. 37 illustrates another implementation of an HUMUX, which canoperate based on a configuration-derived select signal S0, a first usersignal US0, or a second user signal US1.

FIG. 38 illustrates a circuit implementation of the combined multiplexerstructure of FIG. 37.

FIG. 39 illustrates another alternative circuit structure for one set ofmultiplexers in a two-tiered multiplexer structure of some embodiments.

FIG. 40 illustrates an architecture that is formed by numerousconfigurable tiles that are arranged in an arrangement with multiplerows and columns.

FIGS. 41-45 illustrate the connection scheme used to connect themultiplexers of one tile with the LUT's and multiplexers of other tiles.

FIG. 46 illustrates a possible physical architecture of the configurableIC illustrated in FIG. 40.

FIG. 47 illustrates a portion of a configurable IC of some embodimentsof the invention.

FIG. 48 illustrates a detailed example of configuration data thatconfigure the circuits to perform particular operations.

FIG. 49 illustrates a system on chip (“SoC”) implementation of aconfigurable IC.

FIG. 50 illustrates a system in package (“SiP”) implementation for aconfigurable IC.

FIG. 51 conceptually illustrates a more detailed example of a computingsystem that has an IC, which includes one of the invention'sconfigurable circuit arrangements that were described above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, numerous details are set forth for purposeof explanation. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will realizethat the invention may be practiced without the use of these specificdetails. For instance, not all embodiments of the invention need to bepracticed with the specific number of bits and/or specific devices(e.g., multiplexers) referred to below. In other instances, well-knownstructures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order not toobscure the description of the invention with unnecessary detail.

I. Terms and Concepts

A configurable IC is an IC that has configurable circuits. In someembodiments, a configurable IC includes configurable computational units(e.g., configurable logic circuits) and configurable routing circuitsfor routing the signals to and from the configurable computation units.In addition to configurable circuits, a configurable IC also typicallyincludes non-configurable circuits (e.g., non-configurable logiccircuits, interconnect circuits, memories, etc.).

A configurable circuit is a circuit that can “configurably” perform aset of operations. Specifically, a configurable circuit receives“configuration data” that specifies the operation that the configurablecircuit has to perform in the set of operations that it can perform. Insome embodiments, configuration data is generated outside of theconfigurable IC. In these embodiments, a set of software tools typicallyconverts a high-level IC design (e.g., a circuit representation or ahardware description language design) into a set of configuration datathat can configure the configurable IC (or more accurately, theconfigurable IC's configurable circuits) to implement the IC design.

Examples of configurable circuits include configurable interconnectcircuits and configurable logic circuits. An interconnect circuit is acircuit that can connect an input set to an output set in a variety ofmanners. FIG. 1 presents a block diagram of a controllable interconnectcircuit. This circuit 100 has a set of input terminals 105, a set ofoutput terminals 110, and a set of control terminals 115. Theinterconnect circuit 100 receives control data along its controlterminals 115 that causes the interconnect circuit to connect its inputterminal set 105 to its output terminal set 110 in a particular manner.

An interconnect circuit can connect two terminals or pass a signal fromone terminal to another by establishing an electrical path between theterminals. Alternatively, an interconnect circuit can establish aconnection or pass a signal between two terminals by having the value ofa signal that appears at one terminal appear at the other terminal. Inconnecting two terminals or passing a signal between two terminals, aninterconnect circuit in some embodiments might invert the signal (i.e.,might have the signal appearing at one terminal inverted by the time itappears at the other terminal). In other words, the interconnect circuitof some embodiments implements a logic inversion operation inconjunction to its connection operation. Other embodiments, however, donot build such an inversion operation in some or all of theirinterconnect circuits.

A multiplexer is one example of an interconnect circuit. A multiplexeris a device that has k inputs, n outputs, and s select lines. The selectlines typically direct the multiplexer to output n of its k inputs alongits n outputs. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a multiplexer. Thisexample is a four-to-one multiplexer 200 that connects one of its fourinput lines 105 to its output line 205 based on the control signals 115that it receives along its two select lines.

A configurable interconnect circuit is an interconnect circuit that canconfigurably perform a set of connection operations. In someembodiments, a configurable interconnect circuit only receivesconfiguration data along its set of control lines. Also, in someembodiments, all of the configurable interconnect circuit's controllines are permanently tied to configuration data. Specifically, in theseembodiments, the configurable interconnect circuit's control linesreceive configuration data either directly from the storage elementsthat store the configuration data, or through an indirect connection tothese storage elements via one or more interconnect circuits that do notreceive configuration data along their control terminals.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a configurable four-to-one multiplexer300 that receives configuration data from a set of storage elements 320(e.g., a set of memory cells, such as SRAM cells). This multiplexer 300connects one of its four input terminals 105 to its output terminal 205based on the configuration data 115 that is output from the storageelements 320. In other words, the configuration data specify how theinterconnect circuit 300 should connect the input terminal set 105 tothe output terminal 205.

The multiplexer 300 is said to be configurable, as the configurationdata set “configures” this multiplexer to use a particular connectionscheme that connects its input and output terminal sets in a desiredmanner. Examples of configurable interconnect circuits can be found inArchitecture and CAD for Deep-Submicron FPGAs, Betz, et al., ISBN0792384601, 1999; and Design of Interconnection Networks forProgrammable Logic, Lemieux, et al., ISBN 1-4020-7700-9, 2003. Otherexamples of configurable interconnect circuits can be found in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/882,583, entitled “Configurable Circuits,IC's, and Systems,” filed on Jun. 30, 2004. This application isincorporated in the present application by reference.

A logic circuit is a circuit that can perform a function on a set ofinput data that it receives. A configurable logic circuit is a logiccircuit that can configurably perform a set of functions. In someembodiments, a configurable logic circuit only receives configurationdata along its set of control lines. In some embodiments, all of theconfigurable logic circuit's control lines are permanently tied toconfiguration data. Specifically, in these embodiments, the configurablelogic circuit's control lines receive configuration data either directlyfrom the storage elements that store the configuration data, or throughan indirect connection to these storage elements via one or moreinterconnect circuits that do not receive configuration data along theircontrol lines.

FIG. 4 illustrates a configurable logic circuit. As shown in thisfigure, a configurable logic circuit 400 is a logic circuit thatreceives configuration data along its set of control lines 410. In thisexample, the configurable logic circuit receives configuration data froma set of storage elements (e.g., SRAM's) 415. The logic circuit 400 issaid to be configurable, as the configuration data set “configures” thelogic circuit to perform a particular function (from its set offunctions) on the input data received along its input terminals 405 toproduce its output data (that is provided along its output terminal set420). The logic circuit 400 can be reconfigured by writing new data inthe storage elements 415.

Some examples of logic circuits include look-up tables (LUT's),universal logic modules (ULM's), sub-ULM's, multiplexers, andPAL's/PLA's. In addition, logic circuits can be complex logic circuitsformed by multiple logic and interconnect circuits. Examples of simpleand complex logic circuits can be found in Architecture and CAD forDeep-Submicron FPGAs, Betz, et al., ISBN 0792384601, 1999; and Design ofInterconnection Networks for Programmable Logic, Lemieux, et al., ISBN1-4020-7700-9, 2003. Other examples of configurable logic circuits areprovided in the above-incorporated U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/882,583.

As further described below, multiplexers can be used as the logiccircuits of some embodiments of the invention. Also, some embodimentsuse non-configurable logic circuits (i.e., logic circuits that do notreceive configuration data or any other control signals). These logiccircuits are simple computation circuits that perform a particularcomputation on an input data set.

A volatile configurable circuit is a configurable circuit that directlyor indirectly receives its configuration data from a volatile memorystorage. The volatile storage is typically part of the configurablecircuit or it is placed adjacent to the configurable circuit within acircuit array that contains the configurable circuit. For instance, themultiplexer 300 is a volatile configurable multiplexer as itsconfiguration data is stored in two volatile storage elements 320 of themultiplexer. Similarly, the logic circuit 400 is a volatile circuit asits configuration data is stored in its four storage elements 415.However, the volatile storage does not need to be part of or adjacent tothe configurable circuit.

A user-design signal within a configurable IC is a signal that isgenerated by a circuit (e.g., logic circuit) of the configurable IC. Theword “user” in the term “user-design signal” connotes that the signal isa signal that the configurable IC generates for a particular applicationthat a user has configured the IC to perform. User-design signal isabbreviated to user signal in some of the discussion below.

In some embodiments, a user signal is not a configuration or clocksignal that is generated by or supplied to the configurable IC. In someembodiments, a user signal is a signal that is a function of at least aportion of the configuration data received by the configurable IC and atleast a portion of the inputs to the configurable IC. In theseembodiments, the user signal can also be dependent on (i.e., can also bea function of) the state of the configurable IC. The initial state of aconfigurable IC is a function of the configuration data received by theconfigurable IC and the inputs to the configurable IC. Subsequent statesof the configurable IC are functions of the configuration data receivedby the configurable IC, the inputs to the configurable IC, and the priorstates of the configurable IC.

A circuit array is an array with several circuit elements that arearranged in several rows and columns. One example of a circuit array isa configurable node array, which is an array formed by severalconfigurable circuits (e.g., configurable logic and/or interconnectcircuits) arranged in rows and columns. In some cases, all the circuitelements in a configurable node array are configurable circuit elements.For instance, FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a configurable node array500 that includes 208 configurable nodes 505 that are arranged in 13rows and 16 columns. Each configurable node in such a configurable nodearray is a configurable circuit that includes one or more configurablesub-circuits. In other cases, the circuit elements in a configurablenode array also include non-configurable circuit elements.

In some embodiments, each configurable node in a configurable node arrayis a simple or complex configurable logic circuit. In some embodiments,each configurable node in a configurable node array is a configurableinterconnect circuit. In such an array, a configurable node (i.e., aconfigurable interconnect circuit) can connect to one or more logiccircuits. In turn, such logic circuits in some embodiments might bearranged in terms of another configurable logic-circuit array that isinterspersed among the configurable interconnect-circuit array.

Some embodiments might organize the configurable circuits in anarrangement that does not have all the circuits organized in an arraywith several aligned rows and columns. Accordingly, instead of referringto configurable circuit arrays, the discussion below refers toconfigurable circuit arrangements. Some arrangements may haveconfigurable circuits arranged in one or more arrays, while otherarrangements may not have the configurable circuits arranged in anarray.

In some embodiments, some or all configurable circuits in a circuitarrangement have the same or similar circuit structure. For instance, insome embodiments, some or all the circuits have the exact same circuitelements (e.g., have the same set of logic gates and circuit blocksand/or same interconnect circuits), where one or more of these identicalelements are configurable elements. One such example would be a set ofcircuits positioned in an arrangement, where each circuit is formed by aparticular set of logic and interconnect circuits. Having circuits withthe same circuit elements simplifies the process for designing andfabricating the IC, as it allows the same circuit designs and maskpatterns to be repetitively used to design and fabricate the IC.

In some embodiments, the similar configurable circuits not only have thesame circuit elements but also have the same exact internal wiringbetween their circuit elements. For instance, in some embodiments, aparticular set of logic and interconnect circuits that are wired in aparticular manner forms each circuit in a set of configurable circuitsthat are in a configurable circuit arrangement. Having such circuitsfurther simplifies the design and fabrication processes as it furthersimplifies the design and mask making processes.

Also, some embodiments use a circuit arrangement that includes numerousconfigurable and non-configurable circuits that are placed in multiplerows and columns. In addition, within the above described circuitarrangements (e.g., arrays), some embodiments disperse other circuits(e.g., memory blocks, macro blocks, etc.).

Several figures below illustrate several direct connections betweencircuits in a circuit arrangement. A direct connection between twocircuits in an circuit arrangement is an electrical connection betweenthe two circuits that is achieved by (1) a set of wire segments thattraverse through a set of the wiring layers of the IC, and (2) a set ofvias when two or more wiring layers are involved.

In some embodiments, a connection between two circuits in a circuitarrangement might also include a set of buffer circuits in some cases.In other words, two circuits are connected in some embodiments by a setof wire segments that possibly traverse through a set of buffer circuitsand a set of vias. Buffer circuits are not interconnect circuits orconfigurable logic circuits. In some embodiments, buffer circuits arepart of some or all connections. Buffer circuits might be used toachieve one or more objectives (e.g., maintain the signal strength,reduce noise, alter signal delay, etc.) along the wire segments thatestablish the direct connections. Inverting buffer circuits may alsoallow an IC design to reconfigure logic circuits less frequently and/oruse fewer types of logic circuits. In some embodiments, buffer circuitsare formed by one or more inverters (e.g., two or more inverters thatare connected in series).

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate examples of two connections, each between twocircuits in an arrangement. Each of these connections has one or moreintervening buffer circuits. Specifically, FIG. 6 illustrates an exampleof a connection 615 between two circuits 605 and 610. As shown in thisfigure, this connection has an intervening buffer circuit 620. In someembodiments, the buffer circuit 620 is an inverter. Accordingly, inthese embodiments, the connection 615 inverts a signal supplied by onecircuit 605 to the other circuit 610.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a connection 715 between two circuits705 and 710. As shown in this figure, this connection 715 has twointervening buffer circuits 720 and 725. In some embodiments, the buffercircuits 720 and 725 are inverters. Hence, in these embodiments, theconnection 715 does not invert a signal supplied by circuit 705 to theother circuit 710.

Alternatively, the intermediate buffer circuits between the logic and/orinterconnect circuits can be viewed as a part of the devices illustratedin these figures. For instance, the inverters that can be placed afterthe devices 705 and 710 can be viewed as being part of these devices.Some embodiments use such inverters in order to allow an IC design toreconfigure logic circuits less frequently and/or use fewer types oflogic circuits

Several figures below “topologically” illustrate several directconnections between circuits in an arrangement. A topologicalillustration is an illustration that is only meant to show a directconnection between two circuits without specifying a particulargeometric layout for the wire segments that establish the directconnection.

Some embodiments are configurable IC's that have “UMUX's”. A UMUX is amultiplexer that receives user-design signals for at least one of itsdata inputs and one of its select inputs. A UMUX might receive auser-design signal directly from a configurable logic circuit orindirectly through one or more intermediate configurable interconnectcircuits.

Two kinds of UMUX's are full UMUX's and hybrid UMUX's. A full UMUX (orFUMUX) is a UMUX that receives user-design signals for all of its selectsignals. FIG. 8 illustrates a full UMUX 800. This UMUX has a set ofinput terminals 805, an output terminal 810, and a set of selectterminals 815. The UMUX 800 is a four-to-one multiplexer that connectsone of its four data inputs 805 to its data output 810 based on thevalue of the two user-signals that it receives along its selectterminals 815.

A hybrid UMUX (or HUMUX) is a UMUX that can receive user-design signals,configuration data, or both user-design signals and configuration datafor its select signals. FIG. 9 illustrates an HUMUX 900. This HUMUXincludes two two-to-one multiplexers 920, a four-to-one multiplexer 925,a set of input terminals 905, an output terminal 910, and a set ofselect terminals 915. From the outside, the HUMUX looks like afour-to-one multiplexer that has four data inputs 905, one data output910, and four select terminals 915. Also, from the outside, the HUMUXlooks like it passes one of its four data inputs 905 to its one dataoutput 910 based on the value of two of the four signals that itreceives along its four select lines 915.

Internally, the two two-to-one multiplexers 920 pass two of the signalsfrom the four select lines 915 to the two select terminals 940 of thefour-to-one multiplexer 925. As shown in FIG. 9, each two-to-onemultiplexer 920 receives two input signals, which include oneuser-design signal and one stored configuration signal stored in astorage element 945. Each of the two-to-one multiplexers 920 outputs oneof the two input signals that it receives based on the configuration bitthat it receives along its select line 950. Although FIG. 9 illustratestwo configuration bits stored in two storage elements, other embodimentsmight drive both multiplexers 920 off one configuration bit that isstored in one storage element.

The two signals output by the two multiplexers 920 then serve as theselect signals of the multiplexer 925, and thereby direct thismultiplexer to output on line 910 one of the four input signals that itreceives on lines 905. The two multiplexers 920 can output on lines 940either two user-design signals, two configuration signals, or oneuser-design signal and one configuration signal. Accordingly, throughthe two multiplexers 920, the operation of the multiplexer 925 can becontrolled by two user-design signals, two configuration signals, or amix of user/configuration signals.

References to UMUX's in the description below should be construed tocover either a FUMUX or an HUMUX.

III. UMUX Architectures

Different embodiments of the invention use UMUX's differently indifferent configurable IC architectures. Some embodiments have a numberof UMUX's dispersed between the circuits of a circuit arrangement. FIGS.10 and 11 illustrate two such embodiments. FIG. 10 illustrates that someembodiments place the UMUX's 1005 between the circuits 1010 of a circuitarrangement 1000 according to no particular pattern. FIG. 11, on theother hand, illustrates that some embodiments place UMUX's 1105 betweenthe circuits 1110 according to a particular pattern that repeats acrossthe entire circuit arrangement 1100 or a portion of the arrangement. InFIG. 11, the pattern that is repeated is one that is formed by fiveUMUX's 1105 a-1105 e.

The circuits (e.g., 1110 or 1010) in such circuit arrangements are alllogic circuits in some embodiments, while they are interconnect circuitsin other embodiments. In yet other embodiments, the circuits (e.g., 1110or 1010) in the circuit arrangement are both logic and interconnectcircuits. Also, in some embodiments, the circuit arrangement is aconfigurable circuit arrangement. Thus, in these embodiments, all thecircuits in the circuit arrangement are configurable circuits (i.e., allthe circuits are configurable logic circuits, configurable interconnectcircuits, or a mixture of configurable logic and interconnect circuits).In some of these embodiments, all or some of the configurable circuitsare configurable volatile circuits (i.e., they are configurable volatilelogic and/or interconnect circuits).

In the embodiments that disperse UMUX's between the circuits of acircuit arrangement, the UMUX's can be arranged in one or morearrangements. FIG. 12 illustrates an example where a number of UMUX's1205, that are dispersed between the circuits 1210 of a circuitarrangement, form an arrangement of their own. FIG. 13 illustrates anexample of arranging UMUX's 1305 and 1315 in two arrays that aredispersed between the circuits 1310 of a circuit arrangement.Specifically, the UMUX's 1305 form one array, while the UMUX's 1315 formanother array.

Some embodiments position the UMUX's in a circuit arrangement with othertypes of circuits. FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a UMUX 1405 that ispositioned in an arrangement of circuit elements 1410. This UMUXreceives input signals from two circuit elements 1410 a and 1410 b, andreceives select signals from two circuits elements 1410 c and 1410 d.The UMUX 1405 then outputs a signal to circuit element 1410 e. All thecircuit elements 1410 are configurable circuits (e.g., configurablelogic and/or interconnect circuits) in some embodiments. Also, in someembodiments, all these configurable elements are volatile elements. Inother embodiments, only some of the circuit elements 1410 are volatileconfigurable circuit elements, while other circuit elements arenon-volatile configurable circuit elements or non-configurable circuitelements.

UMUX's can receive user-design signals directly from logic circuits, orindirectly from logic circuits through intervening interconnectcircuits. FIG. 15 illustrates a circuit arrangement having logiccircuits 1510, interconnect circuits 1505, and UMUX's 1515. In thisexample, a UMUX 1515 a receives a user-design signal, as a selectsignal, directly from logic circuit 1510 a, and receives a user-designsignal, as an input signal, directly from the logic circuit 1510 b. Thisfigure also illustrates a UMUX 1515 b that receives a user-design signalas an input signal from logic circuit 1510 d through interveninginterconnect circuits 1505 b and 1505 c. It also illustrates this UMUX1515 b receiving a user-design signal as a select signal from logiccircuit 1510 c through interconnect circuit 1505 a. Finally, this figureillustrates a UMUX 1515 c that receives a first user-design signaldirectly from a logic circuit 1510 d, and a second user-design signalindirectly from the logic circuit 1510 b through the interconnectcircuit 1505 d. In some embodiments, the intervening interconnectcircuits 1505 a, 1505 b, 1505 c, and 1505 d are volatile configurableinterconnect circuits.

In the examples illustrated in FIGS. 10-15, UMUX's are part of or aredispersed within a large circuit arrangement that has numerous circuits(e.g., tens, hundreds, thousands, etc. of circuits). In other words,these examples illustrate the use of UMUX's at a macrolevel inconfigurable IC's. However, in some embodiments, UMUX's are used at themicrolevel in a circuit arrangement (e.g., within a circuit or circuitsof a large circuit or circuit arrangement) of a configurable IC. Forinstance, in some embodiments, the circuits in a configurable IC'scircuit arrangement include complex logic circuits that are formed bymultiple logic and interconnect circuits. In such embodiments, complexlogic circuits can be formed by one or more UMUX's.

FIG. 16 illustrates an example of such an embodiment. Specifically, thisfigure illustrates a circuit arrangement 1600 that includes a number oflogic circuits 1605 arranged in a number of rows and columns. Thisfigure further illustrates an exploded view 1610 of one of the logiccircuits 1605 a. As shown in this view, the logic circuit 1605 a isformed by four UMUX's 1615 and one interconnect circuit 1620. Each ofthe UMUX's receives input signals and user-design signals, which directthe UMUX to output one of its input signals. The UMUX output signals areprovided to the configurable interconnect circuit 1620, which thenoutputs one or more of these output signals as the output of the logiccircuit 1605 a.

In some embodiments, all the logic circuits 1605 in the array 1600 havethe structure of the logic circuit 1605 a. In other embodiments, onlysome of the logic circuits 1605 have this structure, while other logiccircuits have a different structure. For instance, some embodiments useconfigurable logic circuits in combination with the UMUX-based logiccircuits (i.e., with logic circuits that are similar to the circuit 1605a). Other embodiments use non-configurable logic circuits with theUMUX-based logic circuits. Yet other embodiments use a combination ofconfigurable logic circuits, non-configurable logic circuits, andUMUX-based logic circuits.

IV. Applications

A. Supering

Some embodiments use UMUX's for “supering” multiple logic circuits.Supering refers to combining the outputs of multiple logic circuits toform a more complex logic circuit. FIG. 17 illustrates one suchembodiment. This figure illustrates a macro-level view of a configurablecircuit arrangement 1700 with numerous (e.g., hundreds, thousands, etc.)circuits arranged in rows and columns. This array includes numerousconfigurable volatile logic circuits 1705, configurable volatileinterconnect circuits 1710, and UMUX's 1715.

As shown in FIG. 17, one UMUX 1715 a receives as input signals theoutputs of two logic circuits 1705 a and 1705 b through two interveningconfigurable interconnect circuits 1710 a and 1710 b. This UMUX 1715 aalso receives as a select signal the output of a logic circuit 1705 cthrough an intervening configurable interconnect circuit 1710 c, whichis a volatile configurable circuit in some embodiments. Based on thereceived select signal, the UMUX 1715 a performs a function on itsreceived input signals. The UMUX performs this function by outputtingone of its input signals along its output line based on the value of thereceived select signal.

The circuit structure illustrated in FIG. 17 can be used to implement afour-input LUT with two three-input LUT's and a UMUX. In other words, ifthe logic circuits 1705 a and 1705 b are three-input LUT's, the UMUX1715 a can be used to create a “super” four-input LUT by combining theoutputs of three-input LUT's 1705 a and 1705 b based on the output ofthe logic circuit 1705 c. In this case, the supered four-input LUT isthe circuit formed by LUT's 1705 a and 1705 b, the interconnect circuit1710 a, and the UMUX 1715 a.

B. Memory

Some embodiments of the invention use UMUX's to implement configurablecircuit arrangements with configurable memory read and write operations.Some configurable IC's today have configurable circuit arrangements withconfigurable memory structures. FIG. 18 illustrates one such priorconfigurable circuit arrangement 1800. This circuit arrangement includesnumerous configurable circuits 1805 that are arranged in rows andcolumns. It also includes two configurable memories 1810. Each of thesetwo memories includes a memory array 1820, i/o circuitry 1825, andconfiguration-storing storage elements 1830.

The configuration-storing storage elements 1830 store configurationdata. This data configures each memory to input and/or output a certainnumber of bits. Specifically, the memory array 1820 receives an addressalong its address line 1835. During a write operation, the addressidentifies a location in the memory to which the i/o circuitry needs towrite a fixed number of bits. Alternatively, during a read operation,this address identifies a location in the memory from which the i/ocircuitry needs to read a fixed number of bits (e.g., 8 bits).

The i/o circuitry 1825 receives configuration data from the storageelements 1830. Based on the received configuration data, the i/ocircuitry then outputs a sub-set of the data bits (e.g., outputs 4 bits)that it receives from the memory array 1820 during a read operation. Inother words, the number of bits that the i/o circuitry might output froma location in the memory array depends on the configuration data storedin the configuration-storing storage elements 1830.

Requiring the memories 1810 to have configuration storage elements 1830and/or circuitry responsive to these storage elements complicates thestructure of these memories, and thereby increases their size.Accordingly, to use simpler memory structures in a configurable circuitarrangement of a configurable IC, some embodiments use UMUX's toimplement configurable circuit arrangements with configurable memoryread operations.

FIG. 19 illustrates one such embodiment. This figure illustrates aconfigurable circuit arrangement 1900 that includes numerousconfigurable interconnect circuits 1905, UMUX's 1910, and logic circuits1920. The interconnect circuits 1905 are arranged in an arrangement withseveral rows and columns. Dispersed within this arrangement ofinterconnect circuits are the logic circuits, which are also arranged inan arrangement with multiple rows and columns. The UMUX's are dispersedwithin these arrangements. Several memories 1915 are also dispersedwithin these arrangements. In some embodiments, these memories all havethe same width. For instance, in some cases, these memories are 256 bytememories that output eight-bit words.

FIG. 19 illustrates two examples for reading out data from anon-configurable memory 1915 a. The output of each of these memories isalways eight-bits wide. To read out a byte of data (i.e., to read outeight bits of data), each memory (e.g., 1915 a) receives an eight-bitaddress that identifies one of 256 locations in the memory.

As shown in FIG. 19, the eight-bit wide output of the memory 1915 a canbe supplied directly to a logic circuit 1920 a through an interconnectcircuit 1905 a. Alternatively, as shown in this figure, a four-bit wideoutput of the memory 1915 a can be supplied to the logic circuit 1920 bthrough a UMUX 1910 a. Specifically, through the interconnect circuit1905 a, the eight-bit wide output can be supplied to the UMUX 1910 a.The UMUX 1910 a is an 8×4 multiplexer that outputs either its bottomfour input signals or its top four input signals to a logic circuit 1920b. Specifically, the UMUX 1910 a receives a signal 1925 on its selectline. Based on the value of this signal, the UMUX then selects itsbottom four input signals or its top four input signals to output.

The bit 1925 that the UMUX 1910 a receives can be viewed as a ninthaddress bit that helps identify and output a 4-bit word from the memory1915 a. In other words, the UMUX 1910 a allows the 256×8 memory, whichis accessed with an eight-bit address, to be treated as a 512×4 memorythat is accessible with a nine-bit address.

FIG. 20 illustrates an example of using UMUX's to write data to anon-configurable memory array 2015 in a configurable circuit arrangement2000. In this figure, the memory array has a set 2005 of four UMUX's tothe right of the memory array. In the example illustrated in FIG. 20,the UMUX set 2005 is used for writing data to the memory array. Theoutput of the UMUX set 2005 connects to the memory array through a setof configurable interconnects 2025, while the input of the UMUX set 2005connects to the memory array through a set of configurable interconnects2020.

During a write operation, an address is supplied to the memory array2015 that identifies a four-bit location in this array. This four-bitlocation is a location to which the memory array will write four bitsthat are supplied through the UMUX set 2005 via the interconnect set2025. Each UMUX in the UMUX set 2005 receives two bits. During a writeoperation, one bit comes from the user design, while the other bit comesfrom the memory. Specifically, during a write operation, the memoryarray 2015 provides the four bits currently stored in the locationidentified by the received address to the UMUX set 2005 through theinterconnect set 2020.

During the write operation, each of the UMUX's 2005 receives a usersignal on its select line that specifies, which of its two inputs (theuser design input or the feedback, memory input) it should output.Through configurable interconnect set 2025, the outputs of the UMUX'sare then provided to the memory array 2015 as data to write to theidentified four-bit location.

The advantage of the UMUX-driven approach for accessing memories is thatit allows all the memories in a configurable circuit arrangement to havethe adjustable widths without requiring the use of configuration data.For instance, in the example illustrated in FIG. 20, the UMUX set 2005allows two bits to be written in a memory that always reads and writeson a four-bit basis. Specifically, by providing one additional addressbit that is decoded to provide two UMUX select signals, two UMUX providetwo new bits to the memory while the other two UMUX write back to thememory two bits that it currently stores.

The UMUX-driven approach also allows the memories to have a relativelysimple structure as these memories no longer need to store configurationdata or circuitry responsive to configuration data. Moreover, theUMUX-driven approach allows the user to effectively have differentmemory operations with simpler memory structures simply through theprogrammable operation of the IC.

C. Shifter

Some embodiments of the invention use UMUX's to implement circuitarrangements with configurable shift operations. FIG. 21 illustrates onesuch embodiment. Specifically, this figure illustrates a circuitarrangement 2100 that has numerous circuits arranged in numerous rowsand columns. These circuits include volatile configurable interconnectcircuits 2105, 2110, and 2115, and logic circuits 2120, 2125 and 2130.

The logic circuit 2120 includes four four-to-one UMUX's 2135. Each ofthese UMUX's serves as a shifter. These UMUX's can be used to seamlesslyperform a variable shift operation whenever the output of a logiccircuit in the arrangement 2100 needs to be shifted by a certain numberof bits that is to be determined by the output of another logic circuit.All that needs to be done is to supply to the UMUX's throughconfigurable interconnect circuits (1) the bits that need to be shifted,and (2) the bits that need to specify the amount of the shift.

FIG. 21 illustrates one example of configurably connecting the UMUX's2135 to logic circuits in the circuit arrangement 2100. Specifically,this figure illustrates the supplying of the output of logic circuit2125 to the UMUX's 2135 through the configurable interconnect circuit2105. In this example, the output of the logic circuit 2125 is four bitswide. Also, in this example, each UMUX 2135 receives the four-bit outputof the logic circuit 2125 in a different order, as shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 21 also illustrates the supplying of the output of the logiccircuit 2130 to the UMUX's 2135 through the configurable interconnectcircuit 2110. In this example, the output of the logic circuit 2130 istwo-bits wide. The value of these two bits cause each of the UMUX's 2135to output a particular one of their four input bits. This outputoperation of the UMUX's 2135 can result in a shift of the output of thelogic circuit 2125. For instance, lets assume that the logic circuit2130 output is a binary value of 10. For the order of the inputs of theUMUX's 2135 illustrated in FIG. 21, this output from logic circuit 2130causes the UMUX's 2135 to output 2301 (where 0, 1, 2, 3 refer to bits inthe four bit output from the logic circuit 2125 and the order of thatthese bits are received is 0123).

D. Interconnect Circuits

An HUMUX blurs the line between a communication circuit and acomputation circuit. In a configurable IC that can be reconfigured inreal time (i.e., in a reconfigurable IC), an HUMUX can serve as a logiccircuit during some clock cycles, while serving as an interconnectcircuit during other clock cycles. This ability is advantageous in avariety of contexts.

1. Hybrid Routing Mux and Logic Circuit

An HUMUX can be used as a hybrid routing multiplexer and logic circuitin a circuit arrangement of a configurable IC. In a circuit arrangement,a routing multiplexer is an interconnect circuit that connects otherlogic and/or interconnect circuits in the arrangement. In someembodiments, a routing multiplexer either provides its output to severallogic and/or interconnect circuits (i.e., has a fan out greater than 1),or provides its output to other interconnect circuits. An HUMUX acts asa routing mux (i.e., does not perform any computation and only serves torelay signals from other circuits) when its operation is completelycontrolled by configuration data. On the other hand, an HUMUX serves asa logic circuit when its operation is not completely controlled byconfiguration data.

FIG. 22 illustrates an example of a circuit arrangement 2200 thatincludes numerous logic circuits 2205, interconnect circuits 2210, andHUMUX's 2215. In some embodiments, some or all of the logic circuitsand/or interconnect circuits are configurable circuits. Theabove-described HUMUX 900 of FIG. 9 is an example of an HUMUX that canbe used as the HUMUX's 2215. The HUMUX 900 acts as a four-to-onemultiplexer that passes one of its four data inputs 905 to its one dataoutput 910 based on the value of two of the four signals that itreceives along its four select lines 915. The HUMUX 900 receives twouser-design signals and two configuration data bits on its four selectlines. The four-to-two multiplexer 920 of this HUMUX passes two of thesefour signals to the two select terminals 940 of the four-to-onemultiplexer 925 of the HUMUX, which, in turn, identify one of the fourinput signals 905 for the multiplexer 925 to output.

Accordingly, the HUMUX's operation (1) is completely controlled by theconfiguration data bits when the two signals supplied to the selectterminals 940 are the configuration data bits, (2) is completelycontrolled by the user-design signals when the two signals supplied tothe select terminals 940 are users signals, and (3) is partiallycontrolled by the user-design signals when the two signals supplied tothe select terminals 940 include one user-design signal and oneconfiguration data bit.

As mentioned above, an HUMUX acts as a routing multiplexer when itsoperation is completely controlled by configuration data; otherwise, theHUMUX serves as a logic circuit. Hence, when the HUMUX 900 is used as anHUMUX 2215, the HUMUX 2215/900 acts as a routing multiplexer when thetwo signals supplied to the select terminals 940 are the configurationdata bits stored in the configuration data elements 945. Otherwise, whenat least one of the two signals supplied to the select terminals 940 isa user-design signal, the HUMUX 900 acts as a logic circuit.

It is advantageous to use HUMUX's in a circuit arrangement of aconfigurable IC, because they can be used to augment the routingresources in some cycles, while augmenting the computational resourcesin other cycles. Having such dual-use devices not only increases theflexibility of the design of the configurable IC, but also reduces thesize of the IC by requiring fewer overall number of logic andinterconnect circuits.

2. Hybrid Input-Select Multiplexer and Logic Circuit

An HUMUX can also be used as a hybrid input-select multiplexer and logiccircuit in a circuit arrangement of a configurable IC. In a circuitarrangement, an input-select multiplexer is an interconnect circuitassociated with a particular logic circuit in the arrangement. Thisinterconnect circuit receives several input signals and passes a sub-set(e.g., one) of these input signals to its corresponding logic circuit.Accordingly, in some embodiments, an input-select multiplexer providesits output to only one logic circuit (i.e., has a fan out of 1),although this is not the case in all embodiments, as further discussedbelow.

One example of input-select multiplexers is presented in FIG. 23. Thisfigure illustrates an example of a circuit arrangement 2300 withnumerous logic circuits 2305 and routing interconnect circuits 2310. Theinterconnect circuits 2310 are responsible for relaying signals betweenlogic circuits and/or other interconnect circuits. The logic circuits,on the other hand, are responsible for performing computations on theirrespective input signals. In some embodiments, some or all theinterconnect and/or logic are configurable circuits.

As shown in FIG. 23, a logic circuit 2305 a includes three input-selectmultiplexers 2315 and a core logic circuit 2320. The three input-selectmultiplexers 2315 receive input signals for the core logic circuit 2320.When operating as input-select multiplexers, these multiplexers pass asub-set of the received input signals to the core logic circuit 2320,which performs a function on these input signals.

HUMUX's can be used for one or more of the input-select multiplexers2315. Some embodiments have an HUMUX for only one of the input-selectmultiplexers 2315. An HUMUX acts as an input-select multiplexer (i.e.,does not perform any computation and only serves to relay a signal toits associated logic circuit) when its operation is completelycontrolled by configuration data. For instance, when the HUMUX 900 ofFIG. 9 is used as the HUMUX 2315 a, the HUMUX 900 acts as aninput-select multiplexer when the two signals supplied to the selectterminals 940 are the configuration data bits stored in theconfiguration storage elements 945.

Otherwise, when the operation of the HUMUX is not completely controlledby configuration data, the HUMUX 2315 a acts as a logic circuit. Forinstance, when the HUMUX 900 is used as an HUMUX 2315 a, the HUMUX 900acts as a logic circuit when at least one of the two signals supplied tothe select terminals 940 is a user-design signal.

When such an HUMUX (i.e., an HUMUX at the input of a logic circuit) actsas a logic circuit, the HUMUX augments the computational abilities ofthe logic circuit. For instance, in the example illustrated in FIG. 23,lets assume that the core logic circuit 2320 is a three-input LUT thatreceives three inputs from three multiplexers 2315. Lets further assumethat the four-to-one HUMUX 900 is used as the HUMUX 2315 a at the inputof the core logic circuit 2320. This HUMUX receives two user-signal bits2330 and 2335 that would select one of the four inputs 2340 for outputto the three-input LUT 2320.

The combination of the logic circuit formed by the three-input LUT 2320and the HUMUX 2315 a (acting as a logic circuit) serves as a four-inputlogic circuit. It is expected that such a four-input logic circuit wouldbe capable of implementing as many as 50 of the 220 most prevalentfour-input functions that a configurable logic circuit can perform. Suchadded functionality comes relatively inexpensively, as it only comes atthe expense of the slightly larger size of the HUMUX as the input selectmultiplexer 2315. Also, such added functionality not only increases theflexibility of the design of the configurable IC, but also might reducethe overall size of the IC by requiring fewer overall number of logiccircuits.

In some embodiments, an input-select multiplexer can have a fan out ofgreater than 1. In these embodiments, the input-select multiplexer stillconnects directly to one logic circuit so that it can select an input ofthis logic circuit. However, in these embodiments, the input-selectmultiplexer also can provide its output to other circuits in the circuitarrangement.

3. HUMUX's as Input-Select Multiplexers, Routing Muxes, and LogicCircuits

The IC's of some embodiments have circuit arrangements that use HUMUX'sas both input-select multiplexers and routing multiplexers. FIG. 24illustrates one such embodiment. Specifically, this figure illustrates acircuit arrangement 2400 that has numerous logic circuits 2405 andinterconnect circuits 2407 arranged in numerous rows and columns. Thiscircuit arrangement 2400 also includes several HUMUX's as routinginterconnect circuits 2410 and several HUMUX's 2415 a as input selectmultiplexers 2415 of some logic circuits 2405 a.

It is advantageous to use in a configurable IC HUMUX's as both inputselect multiplexers and routing interconnect multiplexers. This isbecause such HUMUX's allow the configurable IC to form very complexlogic circuit structures relatively easily by supering logic and HUMUXcircuits. Some embodiments, however, use HUMUX's only for input selectmultiplexers.

V. HUMUX Useful for Decomposing all Functions

HUMUX's are hybrid interconnect/logic circuits. In other words, asmentioned above, HUMUX's can serve as logic and interconnect circuits ina configurable IC. This hybrid quality is especially advantageous since,as logic circuits, HUMUX's can be used to decompose and implementfunctions. In order to decompose and implement functions with HUMUX's,some embodiments define one input of some or all HUMUX's to be apermanently inverting input.

More specifically, some embodiments use Shannon and Davio decompositionto decompose functions. Some embodiments use the multiplexer function ofthe HUMUX to implement the “if-then-else” (ITE) expression needed for aShannon decomposition. Through this ITE expression, these embodimentsimplement the AND function and its NPN equivalents, where NPN stands fornegate input, permute input, and negate output.

FIGS. 25-30 illustrate how the multiplexer functionality of an HUMUXallows the HUMUX to implement the AND function and its NPN equivalents.Specifically, FIG. 25 illustrates a two-input multiplexer 2500 thatreceives variables “b” and “c” on its input lines and variable “a” onits select line. As shown in this figure, this multiplexer 2500 has anoutput (i.e., performs a function) that can be expressed as [(a·b)+(a·c)].

The multiplexer 2500 can be used to generate the AND function and itsNPN equivalents by routing constants to one of the multiplexer inputsand/or performing NPN operations. For instance, FIG. 34 illustrates thatthe multiplexer can perform the AND function by routing a binary 0 toits second input. Similarly, FIG. 27 illustrates that routing a binary 1to the multiplexer's first input, allows the multiplexer to perform theOR function, which is one of the NPN equivalent functions of the ANDfunction.

Like Shannon decomposition, Davio decomposition relies on themultiplexer functionality. However, unlike Shannon decomposition, Daviodecomposition uses the XOR function to decompose a function. FIG. 28illustrates a two-input multiplexer 2800 that implements an XORfunction. As shown in this figure, the multiplexer 2800 has two inputs,one of which is permanently inverting. Both inputs of the multiplexer2800 receives the same input signal “b”, while this multiplexer's selectline receives the input signal “a”. Because of these input signals andthe permanently inverting input, the multiplexer computes [(a· b)+(a·b)], which is another representation of (a⊕b), i.e., of “a” XOR “b”.The multiplexer 2800 can also compute NPN equivalents of the XORfunction through NPN operations (i.e., through negating its inputs,permuting its inputs, and/or negating its output).

The multiplexers illustrated in FIGS. 25-28 can all be the coremultiplexer of an HUMUX (e.g., a multiplexer like the four-to-onemultiplexer 925 of the HUMUX 900 of FIG. 9). When the HUMUX acts as alogic circuit, this core multiplexer receives a user signal. Forinstance, FIG. 29 illustrates an example of an HUMUX 2900 that has acore multiplexer 2905 that operates like the multiplexer 2500 of FIGS.25-27 as it receives the user signal “a” through the select multiplexer2910.

FIG. 30 illustrates another example of an HUMUX 3000 that has a coremultiplexer 3005 that operates like the multiplexer 2800 of FIG. 28 asit receives the user signal “a” through the select multiplexer 3010.Like the multiplexer 2800, the core multiplexer 3005 has one permanentlyinverting input. One of ordinary skill will realize that otherembodiments might obviate the need for a permanently inverting input inthe core multiplexer of an HUMUX by routing inverted inputs to such amultiplexer.

FIG. 31 illustrates a recursive process 3100 that a synthesizer canperform to decompose a function. This process uses a series of Shannonand/or Davio decompositions to decompose a function with more than twoinputs into one or more functions with two inputs. The synthesizer canthen implement each two-input function by the multiplexers illustratedin FIGS. 25-28 and their NPN equivalents.

As shown in FIG. 31, the process 3100 initially receives (at 3105) afunction with more than two inputs. It then determines (at 3110) whetherit should use Shannon or Davio decomposition to remove one variable fromthe received function, in order to decompose the function. In someembodiments, the process makes this determination by using commonlyknown techniques, such as sifting on ordered Kronecker DecisionDiagrams. For instance, some of these techniques determine whether thereceived function is highly dependent on a variable that the process candetermine (at 3110) to remove. If so, the process determines (at 3110)to use the Shannon decomposition to remove the variable. Otherwise, theprocess determines (at 3110) to use the Davio decomposition to removethe variable.

When the process determines (at 3110) to use the Shannon decompositionto remove the variable, the process transitions to 3115. At 3115, theprocess performs Shannon decomposition on the received function. Thedecomposition operation results in a new expression of the receivedfunction that is dependent on the removed variable and two functionsthat are not dependent on the removed variable. Equation (A) illustratesan example of a Shannon decomposition for a five variable functionF(a,b,c,d,e).F(a,b,c,d,e)=[{a·F ₁(b,c,d,e)}+{ a·F ₀(b,c,d,e)}].  (A)

As expressed in Equation (A), the Shannon decomposition can decomposethe five-variable function F(a,b,c,d,e) into two four-variable functionsF₁ and F₀, which are individually AND'ed with the removed variable “a”and its complement, where the result of the AND operations are OR'edtogether. After performing the Shannon decomposition at 3115, theprocess 3100 transitions to 3120, which will be described further below.

When the process determines (at 3110) to use the Davio decomposition toremove the variable, the process transitions to 3125. At 3125, theprocess performs Davio decomposition on the received function. Thisdecomposition operation results in a new expression of the receivedfunction that is dependent on the removed variable and two functionsthat are not dependent on the removed variable.

There are two variations of Davio decomposition, a positive Daviodecomposition and a negative Davio decomposition. Equation (B)illustrates an example of a positive Davio decomposition for the fivevariable function F(a,b,c,d,e).F(a,b,c,d,e)=[{a·F ₁(b,c,d,e)}⊕{F ₂(b,c,d,e)}].  (B)whereF ₂(b,c,d,e)=F ₁(b,c,d,e)⊕F ₀(b,c,d,e),  (C)where F₀ and F₁ are identical in Equations (A), (B), and (C). Asexpressed in Equation (B), the positive Davio decomposition candecompose the five-variable function F(a,b,c,d,e) into two four-variablefunctions F₁ and F₂, with the first function F₁ AND'ed with the removedvariable “a” and the result XOR'ed with the second function F₂.

Equation (D) illustrates an example of a negative Davio decompositionfor the five variable function F(a,b,c,d,e).F(a,b,c,d,e)=[{a·F ₀(b,c,d,e)}⊕{F ₂(b,c,d,e)}].  (D)where F₀ and F₂ are identical in Equations (A), (B), (C), and (D). Asexpressed in Equation (D), the negative Davio decomposition candecompose the five-variable function F(a,b,c,d,e) into two four-variablefunctions F₀ and F₂, with the first function F₀ AND'ed with the removedvariable “a” and the result XOR'ed with the second function F₂.

After performing the Davio decomposition at 3125, the process 3100transitions to 3120. At 3120, the process determines whether any of thefunctions that resulted from the decomposition (e.g., whether functionsF₀, F₁, or F₂) has more than two variables. When the process determines(at 3120) that none of the resulting functions have more than twovariables, the process returns (at 3135) the two-input functions thatthe process identified itself or identified through its recursive calls,and then ends. On the other hand, if the process determines (at 3120)that one or more of the resulting functions has more than two variables,the process recursively calls itself (at 3130) once for each of thesefunctions. Once the process has received the result of its recursivecall, it returns (at 3135) the two-input functions that the processidentified itself or identified through its recursive calls, and thenends.

When the original function has been broken down into a series oftwo-input functions, the original function can be implemented by aseries of HUMUX's that perform two-input function AND and/or XORoperations and their NPN equivalents. When an HUMUX has more than twoinput lines and more than one select line, the HUMUX can be reduced intoa two input HUMUX by setting all the select lines except one to defaultvalues, which, in turn, renders all the inputs of the HUMUX irrelevantexcept two of its inputs.

The process 3100 decomposes a function into a series of two-inputfunctions. It is not necessary, however, for the decomposition operationto decompose the function into a series of two-input functions. The endresult of other decomposition processes might include functions withthree or more variables. These more complex functions, in turn, can beimplemented by using other logic circuits (e.g., three or four inputLUT's) or using HUMUX's with more than two inputs. Accordingly, theabove-described process 3100 presents only one manner of decomposing afunction. This process 3100 serves as an example of how a function withmore than two variables can be decomposed through Shannon and/or Daviodecomposition into a series of two input functions that can beimplemented by HUMUX's.

Also, the discussion above focuses on using HUMUX's to decompose andimplement complex functions. FUMUX's, however, can also be used todecompose and implement complex functions, by having some FUMUX's withat least one input that is a permanently inverting input or thatreceives an inverted version of another of its inputs. The advantage ofusing HUMUX's in an IC, however, is that HUMUX's can serve not only aslogic circuits (that can decompose and implement complex functions) butcan also server as interconnect circuits.

VI. Sub-Cycle Reconfigurable HUMUX

Reconfigurable IC's are one type of configurable IC's. ReconfigurableIC's are configurable IC's that can reconfigure during runtime. In otherwords, a reconfigurable IC is an IC that has reconfigurable logiccircuits and/or reconfigurable interconnect circuits, where thereconfigurable logic and/or interconnect circuits are configurable logicand/or interconnect circuits that can “reconfigure” more than once atruntime. A configurable logic or interconnect circuit reconfigures whenit receives a different set of configuration data. Some embodiments ofthe invention are implemented in reconfigurable IC's that are sub-cyclereconfigurable (i.e., can reconfigure circuits on a sub-cycle basis).

FIGS. 32-36 illustrate a more detailed example of an HUMUX 3200 of someembodiments of the invention. This example is a sub-cycle reconfigurableHUMUX that is implemented in complementary pass logic (CPL) for asub-cycle reconfigurable IC. In a CPL implementation of a circuit, acomplementary pair of signals represents each logic signal, where anempty circle at the input or output of a circuit denotes thecomplementary input or output of the circuit in the figures. In otherwords, the circuit receives true and complement sets of input signalsand provides true and complement sets of output signals. A sub-cyclereconfigurable IC is an IC that has reconfigurable circuits that canreceive configuration data sets on a sub-cycle basis and therefore canreconfigure on a sub-cycle basis. Examples of sub-cycle reconfigurablecircuits are disclosed in U.S. patent application entitled “ConfigurableIC with Interconnect Circuits that also Perform Storage Operations”,which is filed concurrently with the present application, with attorneydocket number TBUL.P0022. This application is incorporated herein byreference.

As shown in FIG. 32, the HUMUX 3200 is an eight-to-one HUMUX that isformed by four multiplexers 3205, 3210, 3215, and 3220. The inputs andoutputs of these multiplexers are shown as thick lines to indicate thateach of these lines represents a CPL true/complement pair of lines.

As shown in FIG. 32, the multiplexer 3205 is an eight-to-one multiplexerthat, on a sub-cycle basis, connects one of its input lines to itsoutput line based on the values of the signals S2, S1, and S0′, which itreceives along its three select lines. In response to three signals ST0,ST1, and CLK (which is not illustrated in FIG. 32), the multiplexer 3210supplies two of the select signals S2 and S1 to the multiplexer 3205 ona sub-cycle basis. Specifically, based on the signals ST0 and ST1 thatit receives on its select lines, the multiplexer 3210 connects one ofits four three-bit input lines (each of which connects to a storageelement 3225 that stores configuration data) to its three output lines.Hence, the three output lines of multiplexer 3210 provide threeconfiguration select signals S2, S1, and S0. Two of these output linesconnect to the third and second select lines of the multiplexer 3205, inorder to provide the select signals S2 and S1.

The first output line of the multiplexer 3210 carries the first selectsignal S0. This output line connects to one of the two input lines ofthe multiplexer 3220. The other input line of the multiplexer 3220receives a user signal. Through its two input lines, the multiplexer3220 receives two inputs on a sub-cycle basis. Based on the signal thatit receives on a sub-cycle basis on its select line from the multiplexer3215, the multiplexer 3220 supplies one of its two inputs to its outputline. This output line connects to the first select line of themultiplexer 3205 to provide the select signal S0′. Hence, the signal S0′is a signal that in each sub-cycle might be either a user signal orconfiguration-driven select signal S0.

Which of these signals gets routed to the multiplexer 3205 as the selectsignal S0′ depends on the value of the configuration data output fromthe multiplexer 3215 on a sub-cycle basis. The multiplexer 3215 is afour-to-one multiplexer that (1) has its four inputs connected to fourstorage elements storing four configuration data bits, and (2) has oneoutput that receives one of the four configuration data bits in eachsub-cycle based on the signals ST0 and ST1 supplied to the select linesof the multiplexer 3215.

FIG. 33 illustrates a multiplexer 3300 that in some embodiments is usedas the multiplexer 3205. As shown in FIG. 33, the multiplexer 3300includes one set of input buffers 3305, three sets of pass transistors3310, 3315, and 3320, two pull-up PMOS transistors 3325 and 3330, andtwo output buffers 3335 and 3340. One subset of the input buffers 3305receives eight input bits (0-7), while another subset of the inputbuffers 3305 receives the complement of the eight input bits (i.e.,receives 0- 7). These input buffers serve to buffer the first set 3310of pass transistors.

The first set 3310 of pass transistors receive the third select bit S2or the complement of this bit, while the second set 3315 of passtransistors receive the second select bit S1 or the complement of thisbit. The third set 3320 of pass transistors receive the first select bitS0′ or its complement. The three select bits S2, S1, and S0 cause thepass transistors to pass one of the input bits and the complement ofthis input bit to two intermediate output nodes 3355 and 3360 of thecircuit 3300. For instance, when the enable signal is low, and theselect bits are 011, the pass transistors 3365 a, 3370 a, 3375 a, and3365 b, 3370 b, and 3375 b turn on to pass the 6 and 6 input signals tothe intermediate output nodes 3355 and 3360.

The pull-up PMOS transistors 3325 and 3330 are used to pull-up quicklythe intermediate output nodes 3355 and 3360, and to regenerate thevoltage levels at the nodes that have been degenerated by the NMOSthreshold drops, when these nodes need to be at a high voltage. In otherwords, these pull-up transistors are used because the NMOS passtransistors are slower than PMOS transistors in pulling a node to a highvoltage. Thus, for instance, when the 6^(th) input signal is high, theenable signal is low, and the select bits are 011, the pass transistors3365-3375 start to pull node 3355 high and to push node 3360 low. Thelow voltage on node 3360 turns on the pull-up transistor 3325, which, inturn, accelerates the pull-up of node 3355.

The output buffer inverters 3335 and 3340 are used to allow the circuit3300 to drive a load. These buffers are formed by more than one inverterin some embodiments. The outputs of these buffers are the final output3380 and 3385 of the multiplexer 3300. It should be noted that, in someembodiments, the output buffers 3335 and 3340 are followed by multipleinverters.

Although FIG. 32 conceptually illustrates the multiplexer 3220 as aseparate multiplexer that is after the multiplexer 3210, someembodiments implement the multiplexer 3220 as part of a multiplexerstructure that is used to define the multiplexer 3210. In someembodiments, the multiplexer 3210 of FIG. 32 is formed by threemultiplexer structures. One structure is used to generate the thirdselect signal S2, the other structure is used to generate the secondselect signal S1, and the last structure is used to generate the firstselect signal S0′.

FIG. 34 illustrates a CPL implementation of a two-tier multiplexerstructure 3400 for generating the second signal S1 and its complement.The multiplexer structure for generating the third select signal S2 isidentical to the structure 3400. In addition, an identical circuit canbe used to implement the multiplexer 3215 of FIG. 32. The multiplexerstructure 3400 is a two-tiered multiplexer structure, where one tier ofmultiplexers is driven by the signals ST0 and ST1, while the other tierof multiplexers are driven by the clock signal CLK that operates attwice the rate of the signals ST0 and ST1, as further described below.

As illustrated in FIG. 34, the select signal generation circuit 3400 canbe divided into four sections, which are (1) storage cell section 3405,(2) first two-to-one multiplexer section 3410, (3) second two-to-onemultiplexer section 3415, and (4) pull-up PMOS transistor sections 3420.The first section 3405 includes four storage cells 3425 a-3425 d thatstore four configuration bits for four sub-cycles. In other words, eachstorage cell provides a configuration bit 3430 and the complement ofthis bit 3435, where each such pair of bits provides the select bitsignal S1 and its complement during a particular sub-cycle.

The second section includes two multiplexers 3440 and 3445 that aredriven by two signals ST0 and ST1 that are offset by 90°, and thedifferential complement ST0 and ST1 of these signals. The third sectionis one two-to-one multiplexer 3415 that is driven by the clock signalCLK and its differential complement CLK.

FIG. 35 illustrates an example of the signals CLK, ST0, and ST1. Someembodiments use the multiplexer/storage circuit 3300 and theselect-signal generator 3400 in a configurable IC that implements adesign that has a primary clock rate of X MHZ (e.g., 200 MHZ) through afour sub-cycle implementation that effectively operates at 4X MHZ. Insome of these embodiments, the two signals ST0 and ST1 would operate atX MHZ, while the clock signal CLK would operate at 2X MHZ.

The fourth section 3420 includes two pull-up PMOS transistors 3485 and3490, which are used to quickly pull-up the output of the multiplexer3415 that is high. The two complementary outputs of the multiplexer 3415provide the select signal S1 and its complement. The S1 select signaland its complement drive the pass transistor set 3315 in FIG. 33.

FIG. 34 illustrates one possible implementation 3450 of the multiplexer3445 and the connections of this multiplexer 3445 and the storage cells3425 c and 3425 d. As shown in this figure, the multiplexer 3445 can beimplemented by four pass transistors, where two transistors 3455 and3460 receive the true configuration bits 3430 c and 3430 d from thethird and fourth storage cells 3425 c and 3425 d, while the other twotransistors 3465 and 3470 receive the complement configuration bits 3435c and 3435 d from the third and fourth storage cells. As further shown,transistors 3455 and 3465 are driven by signal ST1, while transistors3460 and 3470 are driven by the complement ST1 of signal ST1. A similarimplementation can be used for multiplexer 3440. However, the passtransistors 3455-3470 of the multiplexer 3440 would be driven by thesignal ST0 and its complement ST0 .

FIG. 34 also illustrates one possible implementation of the two-to-onemultiplexer 3415. This implementation is similar to the implementation3450 of the multiplexer 3445. However, instead of the signal ST1, thepass transistors 3455-3470 of the multiplexer 3415 are driven by the CLKand CLK signals. Also, these transistors receive a different set ofsignals. Specifically, the transistors 3455 and 3465 of the multiplexer3415 receive the true and complement outputs of the multiplexer 3440,while the transistors 3460 and 3470 of the multiplexer 3415 receive thetrue and complement outputs of the multiplexer 3445.

The transistors 3455 and 3465 of the multiplexer 3445 (1) output thetrue and complement configuration bits stored in the storage cells 3425c when the signal ST1 is high, and (2) output the true and complementconfiguration bits stored in the storage cells 3425 d when the signalST1 is low. Similarly, the transistors 3455 and 3465 of the multiplexer3440 (1) output the true and complement configuration bits stored in thestorage cells 3425 a when the signal ST0 is high, and (2) output thetrue and complement configuration bits stored in the storage cells 3425b when the signal ST0 is low. Finally, the transistors 3455 and 3465 ofthe multiplexer 3415 (1) output the true and complement output bits ofthe multiplexer 3440 when the clock CLK is high, and (2) output the trueand complement output bits of the multiplexer 3445 when the clock signalCLK is low.

Given the above-described operations of multiplexers 3440, 3445, and3415, and given the 90° offset between signals ST0 and ST1 and thefaster frequency of the clock signal CLK, FIG. 35 illustrates the valueof the select signal S1 and its complement that the circuit 3400generates during each half-cycle of the clock signal CLK. This clockingscheme hides all the timing of the selection of the configuration bitsfrom the storage cells 3425 behind the two-to-one multiplexer 3415. Forinstance, while the multiplexer 3440 is switching between outputting theconfiguration bits stored in cell 3425 a and the bits stored in cell3425 b, the clocking scheme directs the multiplexer 3415 to output theconfiguration bits previously selected by the multiplexer 3445 (i.e.,the configuration bits stored in cell 3425 c). Similarly, while themultiplexer 3445 is switching between outputting the configuration bitsstored in cell 3425 c and the bits stored in cell 3425 d, the clockingscheme directs the multiplexer 3415 to output the configuration bitspreviously selected by the multiplexer 3440 (i.e., the configurationbits stored in cell 3425 b).

When implementing a design that has a primary clock rate of X MHZthrough a four sub-cycle implementation that effectively operates at 4XMHZ, this clocking scheme allows the configuration bits to be read fromthe storage cells at an effective rate of 4X MHZ without the need for a4X MHZ clock. Some embodiments globally distribute the differential pairof CLK and CLK signals, while locally generating the differentialsignals STO, STO, ST1, and ST1 . Examples of such distribution andgeneration are further described in U.S. patent application entitled“Configurable IC with Interconnect Circuits that also Perform StorageOperations”, which was incorporated above.

As mentioned above, FIG. 32 conceptually illustrates the multiplexer3220 as a separate multiplexer that is after the multiplexer 3210.However, some embodiments implement the multiplexer 3220 in conjunctionwith the multiplexer structure of the multiplexer 3210 that is used togenerate the signal S0 and its complement. FIG. 36 illustrates a CPLimplementation of this combined multiplexer structure 3600 of someembodiments.

This multiplexer structure 3600 outputs the select signal S0′, which isprovided to the first select line of the multiplexer 3205. The circuit3600 illustrated in FIG. 36 can be divided into five sections, which are(1) storage cell section 3605, (2) first two-to-one multiplexer stage3610, (3) a second two-to-one multiplexer stage 3620, (4) a thirdtwo-to-one multiplexer section 3625, and (5) a second pull-up transistorstage 3630.

The storage cell section 3605 is identical to the storage cell section3405 of the circuit 3400 of FIG. 34, with the exception that the storagecells in FIG. 36 store configuration bits for the first select signalS0, instead of storing configuration bits for the second select signalS1. In other words, each storage cell 3425 provides a configuration bit3430 and the complement of this bit 3435, where each such pair of bitsprovides the select bit signal S0 and its complement during a particularsub-cycle.

The second section 3610 includes two multiplexers 3440 and 3445 that areidentical to the two multiplexers 3440 and 3445 of the circuit 3400 ofFIG. 34. As in circuit 3400, the multiplexers 3440 and 3445 are foroutputting the configuration bits from cells 3425 a, 3425 b, 3425 c, and3425 d. The outputs of the second section 3610 can be tied to fourpull-up PMOS transistors, which can quickly pull-up the outputs of themultiplexers 3440 and 3445 that are high. Some embodiments, on the otherhand, might not include such pull-up PMOS transistors.

The third section 3620 includes two two-to-one multiplexers 3640 and3645 that select respectively between the output of the multiplexer 3440and the user signal US, and between the output of the multiplexer 3445and the user signal US, based on the output UM and UM of the multiplexer3215. As mentioned above, the output of the multiplexer 3215 specifieswhether the select signal S0′ should be the user signal or the selectsignal S0 stored in the configuration data cell for the currentsub-cycle.

The fourth section 3625 is one two-to-one multiplexer 3415 that isdriven by a clock signal CLK, which operates at twice the frequency ofthe signals ST0 and ST1. The signals ST0, ST1, and CLK are illustratedin FIG. 35, as described above. Also, as mentioned above, the use of thetwo-to-one multiplexer 3415 and the signals CLK, ST0, and ST1 and theirdifferential complements, hides all the timing of the selection of theconfiguration bits from the storage cells 3425 behind the two-to-onemultiplexer 3415.

The fifth section 3630 includes two pull-up transistors 3665 and 3670that are used to pull-up quickly the output nodes 3655 and 3660 of thefourth section 3625, and to regenerate the voltage levels at the nodesthat have been degenerated by the NMOS threshold drops, when these nodesneed to be at a high voltage. The nodes 3655 and 3660 provide the firstselect signal S0′ and its complement for the first select line of themultiplexer 3205.

VII. Alternate Implementation of an Humux

In the HUMUX 3200, the first select line of the multiplexer 3205 canconfigurably receive either a configuration-derived select signal S0 ora user signal. Hence, the operation of the HUMUX 3200 can be basedeither on the configuration-derived select signal S0 or on the usersignal. FIG. 37 illustrates another implementation of an HUMUX, whichcan operate based on a configuration-derived select signal S0, a firstuser signal US0, or a second user signal US1. Specifically, in the HUMUX3700 of this figure, the first select line of the multiplexer 3205 canconfigurably receive either the configuration-derived select signal S0,the first user signal US0, or the second user signal US1.

The HUMUX 3700 is identical to the HUMUX 3200 except that the HUMUX 3700also includes a multiplexer 3705. This multiplexer 3705 provides theHUMUX 3700 with the ability to supply the first select line of themultiplexer 3205 with one of two user signals US0 and US1, in additionto the select signal S0 output from the multiplexer 3210. In particular,the multiplexer 3705 receives the two user signals US0 and US1 as inputsignals. It also receives the select signal S0 along its select line.Based on the value of the select signal S0, the multiplexer 3705 routesone of the two user signals US0 and US1 to the multiplexer 3220, whichalso receives the select signal S0 as one of its input signals. Based onthe value that the multiplexer 3220 receives on its select line, themultiplexer 3220 then outputs as select signal S0′ either the selectsignal S0 or the user signal that it receives. The select signal S0′then drives the first select line of the multiplexer 3205 as describedabove.

FIG. 37 conceptually illustrates the multiplexer 3705, 3220, and 3210 asseparate multiplexers. However, some embodiments implement the twomultiplexers 3705 and 3220 in conjunction with the multiplexer structureof the multiplexer 3210 that is used to generate the signal S0 and itscomplement.

FIG. 38 illustrates a CPL implementation of this combined multiplexerstructure 3600 of some embodiments. This combined multiplexer structureis identical to the combined multiplexer structure 3600 of FIG. 36,except that the multiplexer structure 3600 also includes 2 two-to-onemultiplexers 3805 and 3810.

The multiplexer 3805 selects between the user signals US0 and US1 basedon the output of the multiplexer 3440, while the multiplexer 3810selects between the user signals US0 and US1 based on the output of themultiplexer 3445. Each multiplexer includes two transistors (3815 and3825, or 3835 and 3845) that receive the user signals US0 and itscomplement, and two transistors (3820 and 3830, or 3840 and 3850) thatreceive the user signals US1 and its complement. The transistors thatreceive the user signal US0 and its complement are driven by the trueoutput of the multiplexer 3440 or 3445, while the transistors thatreceive the user signal US1 and its complement are driven by thecomplement output of the multiplexer 3440 or 3445.

The true and complement outputs of each two-to-one multiplexer 3805 and3810 is supplied to the two-to-one multiplexers 3640 and 3645 of thethird section 3620. These multiplexers then select respectively betweenthe output of the multiplexer 3440 and the user signal (US0 or US1)supplied by the multiplexer 3805, and between the output of themultiplexer 3445 and the user signal (US0 or US1) supplied by themultiplexer 3810. The selection of these multiplexers 3640 and 3645 arebased on the output UM and UM of the multiplexer 3215, which specifieswhether the select signal S0′ should be the user signal or the selectsignal S0 stored in the configuration data cell for the currentsub-cycle.

Several embodiments were described above by reference to examples ofsub-cycle reconfigurable circuits that operate based on four differentsets of configuration data. In some of these examples, a reconfigurablecircuit receives its four different configuration data sets sequentiallyin an order that loops from the last configuration data set to the firstconfiguration data set. Such a sequential reconfiguration scheme isreferred to as a 4 “loopered” scheme.

Other embodiments, however, might be implemented as six or eightloopered sub-cycle reconfigurable circuits. In a six or eight looperedreconfigurable circuit, a reconfigurable circuit receives six or eightconfiguration data sets in an order that loops from the lastconfiguration data set to the first configuration data set. Severalexamples of how to make a four loopered circuit into a six and eightloopered circuit and the clocking scheme for such circuits are describedin the above mentioned U.S. patent application entitled “Configurable ICwith Interconnect Circuits that also Perform Storage Operations”, whichis filed concurrently with the present application, with attorney docketnumber TBUL.P0022.

VIII. Alternative Two Tiered Structure for Retrieving Data

Several circuits described above utilize a two-tiered structure forretrieving data (e.g., configuration data, etc.) on a sub-cycle basis.Examples of such circuits are the circuits illustrated in FIGS. 34, 36,and 38. These circuits employ multiple storage elements 3425 that storemultiple sets of data for multiple sub-cycles. They also include twotiers of multiplexers, where two two-to-one multiplexers (e.g., 3440 and3445) form the first tier and one two-to-one multiplexer (e.g., 3415)forms the second tier. In some circuits, the two tiers of multiplexershave intervening circuits between them, such as AND'ing transistors orgates, etc. The second-tier multiplexer runs at the clock rate CLK,while the first-tier multiplexers runs at half that rate. From thestorage elements, these multiplexers together output data at a sub-cyclerate that is twice the clock rate CLK.

Some embodiments that use this two-tiered structure, build the firsttier of multiplexers into the sensing circuitry of the storage elements3425. FIG. 39 illustrates an example of such an approach. Specifically,this figure illustrates four storage elements 3425 a-3425 d that arearranged in two columns 3950 and 3955. Each storage element stores onelogical bit of data in a complementary format. This data might beconfiguration data, enable data, or any other data that needs to beprovided to the reconfigurable IC on a sub-cycle basis.

Each of the two complementary outputs of each storage element 3425connects to a pair of stacked NMOS transistors 3920 and 3925. Onetransistor 3925 in each stacked pair of NMOS transistors is part of afirst tier multiplexer structure. Specifically, in the two-tieredcircuit structure 3900 illustrated in FIG. 39, the first tiermultiplexer structure is formed by the eight transistors 3925, whichreceive the sub-cycle signals ST0, ST1, or the complements of thesesignals.

Through the sub-cycle signals ST0, ST1, ST0 , and ST1 , the multiplexertransistors 3925 selectively connect the NMOS transistors 3920 to thecross-coupled PMOS transistors 3905 and 3910. One pair of PMOStransistors 3905 and 3910 exists in each column and form part of thesensing amplifier for the storage elements in that column.

Specifically, when the NMOS transistors 3920 associated with one storageelement 3425 connect to the PMOS transistors 3905 and 3910, they form alevel-converting sense amplifier. This amplifier then translates thesignals stored in the storage element to the bit lines 3935 or 3940. Thecircuit 3900 provides the content of the storage elements throughlevel-converting sense amplifiers, because, in some embodiments, thestorage elements are storage cells that use a reduced voltage to storetheir data in order to conserve power. One such example of a reducedpower storage cell is provided in United States application entitled“Method and Apparatus for Reduced Power Cell,” filed concurrently withthe present application, with the attorney docket number TBUL.P0020.

The bit lines 3935 and 3940 connect to the next stage in the circuitthat they are used. Specifically, the bit lines 3935 and 3940 areprovided to the two-to-one multiplexer 3415 in the circuit 3400, whilethey are provided to transistor stages 3640 and 3645 in the circuits3600 and 3800, which, in turn, connect to the multiplexer 3415. Asdescribed above, the multiplexer 3415 is controlled through the clocksignal CLK and its complement. Accordingly, when the clock signals CLKand CLK, and the sub-cycle signals ST0, ST1, ST0 , and ST1 , have thetiming relationship illustrated in FIG. 35, the first tier multiplexer(formed by the transistors 3925) and the second tier multiplexer 3415operate to output data from the storage elements 3425 at a rate that istwice the rate of the clock signal CLK. This outputting is analogous tohow the circuit 3400 outputs the S1 select signal on the sub-cycle basisthat is illustrated in FIG. 35.

By building the first multiplexer stage into the sense amplifier sectionof the storage elements, this circuit reduces signal path delay from thestorage elements. Also, it operates with storage elements that have lesspower consumption. Furthermore, it reduces power consumption by usingNMOS transistors 3920 that are not driven by full voltage levels, andsharing the PMOS transistors 3905 and 3910 that are necessary for levelconversion between two storage elements.

The two-tiered structure of the circuit 3900 of FIG. 39 can be easilyextended to six and eight loopered structures. For a six looperedstructure, all that needs to be done is to stack another pair of storageelements above elements 3425 c and 3425 d, and to drive the transistors3925 with two sets of three one-hot signals. Similarly, for an eightloopered structure, all that needs to be done is to stack two pairs ofstorage elements on top of elements 3425 c and 3425 d, and to drive thetransistors 3925 with the two sets of four one-hot signals. These setsof one-hot signals are further described in the U.S. patent applicationentitled “Configurable IC with Interconnect Circuits that also PerformStorage Operations”, which is filed concurrently with the presentapplication, with attorney docket number TBUL.P0022.

IX. Configurable IC Architectures

Different embodiments of the invention are implemented in differentconfigurable IC's with different architectures. FIGS. 40-45 illustratethe architecture of some embodiments of the invention. As shown in FIG.40, this architecture is formed by numerous configurable tiles 4005 thatare arranged in an array with multiple rows and columns. In FIGS. 40-45,each configurable tile includes a sub-cycle reconfigurable three-inputLUT 4010, three sub-cycle reconfigurable input-select multiplexers 4015,4020, and 4025, and two sub-cycle reconfigurable routing multiplexers4030 and 4035. Other configurable tiles can include other types ofcircuits, such as memory arrays instead of logic circuits.

In FIGS. 40-45, an input-select multiplexer is an interconnect circuitassociated with the LUT 4010 that is in the same tile as the inputselect multiplexer. One such input select multiplexer receives severalinput signals for its associated LUT and passes one of these inputsignals to its associated LUT.

In FIGS. 40-45, a routing multiplexer is an interconnect circuit that ata macro level connects other logic and/or interconnect circuits. Inother words, unlike an input select multiplexer in these figures thatonly provides its output to a single logic circuit (i.e., that only hasa fan out of 1), a routing multiplexer in some embodiments eitherprovides its output to several logic and/or interconnect circuits (i.e.,has a fan out greater than 1), or provides its output to otherinterconnect circuits.

FIGS. 41-45 illustrate the connection scheme used to connect themultiplexers of one tile with the LUT's and multiplexers of other tiles.This connection scheme is further described in U.S. Application entitled“Configurable IC with Routing Circuits with Offset Connections”, filedconcurrently with this application with attorney docket numberTBUL.P0036. This application is incorporated herein by reference.

In the architecture illustrated in FIGS. 40-45, each tile includes onethree-input LUT, three input-select multiplexers, and two routingmultiplexers. Other embodiments, however, might have a different numberof LUT's in each tile, a different number of inputs for each LUT, adifferent number of input-select multiplexers, and/or a different numberof routing multiplexers. For instance, some embodiments might employ anarchitecture that has in each tile: one three-input LUT, threeinput-select multiplexers, and eight routing multiplexers. Several sucharchitectures are further described in the above-incorporated patentapplication.

In some embodiments, the examples illustrated in FIGS. 40-45 representthe actual physical architecture of a configurable IC. However, in otherembodiments, the examples illustrated in FIGS. 40-45 topologicallyillustrate the architecture of a configurable IC (i.e., they showconnections between circuits in the configurable IC, without specifying(1) a particular geometric layout for the wire segments that establishthe connection, or even (2) a particular position of the circuits). Insome embodiments, the position and orientation of the circuits in theactual physical architecture of a configurable IC is different than theposition and orientation of the circuits in the topological architectureof the configurable IC. Accordingly, in these embodiments, the IC'sphysical architecture appears quite different than its topologicalarchitecture. For example, FIG. 46 provides one possible physicalarchitecture of the configurable IC 4000 illustrated in FIG. 40. Thisand other architectures are further described in the above-incorporatedpatent application.

X. Configurable IC and System

Some embodiments described above are implemented in configurable IC'sthat can compute configurable combinational digital logic functions onsignals that are presented on the inputs of the configurable IC's. Insome embodiments, such computations are state-less computations (i.e.,do not depend on a previous state of a value).

Some embodiments described above are implemented in configurable IC'sthat can perform a continuous function. In these embodiments, theconfigurable IC can receive a continuous function at its input, and inresponse, provide a continuous output at one of its outputs.

FIG. 47 illustrates a portion of a configurable IC 4700 of someembodiments of the invention. As shown in this figure, this IC has aconfigurable circuit arrangement 4705 and I/O circuitry 4710. Theconfigurable circuit arrangement 4705 can be any of the invention'sconfigurable circuit arrangements that were described above. The I/Ocircuitry 4710 is responsible for routing data between the configurablecircuits 4715 of the arrangement 4705 and circuits outside of thearrangement (i.e., circuits outside of the IC, or within the IC butoutside of the arrangement 4705). As further described below, such dataincludes data that needs to be processed or passed along by theconfigurable circuits.

The data also includes in some embodiments configuration data thatconfigure the circuits to perform particular operations. FIG. 48illustrates a more detailed example of this. Specifically, this figureillustrates a configuration data pool 4805 for the configurable IC 4700.This pool includes N configuration data sets (CDS). As shown in FIG. 48,the input/output circuitry 4710 of the configurable IC 4700 routesdifferent configuration data sets to different configurable circuits ofthe IC 4700. For instance, FIG. 48 illustrates configurable circuit 4845receiving configuration data sets 1, 3, and J through the I/O circuitry,while configurable circuit 4850 receives configuration data sets 3, K,and N−1 through the I/O circuitry. In some embodiments, theconfiguration data sets are stored within each configurable circuit.Also, in some embodiments, a configurable circuit can store multipleconfiguration data sets so that it can reconfigure quickly by changingto another configuration data set. In some embodiments, someconfigurable circuits store only one configuration data set, while otherconfigurable circuits store multiple such data sets.

A configurable IC of the invention can also include circuits other thana configurable circuit arrangement and I/O circuitry. For instance, FIG.49 illustrates a system on chip (“SoC”) implementation of a configurableIC 4900. This IC has a configurable block 4950, which includes aconfigurable circuit arrangement 4705 and I/O circuitry 4710 for thisarrangement. It also includes a processor 4915 outside of theconfigurable circuit arrangement, a memory 4920, and a bus 4910, whichconceptually represents all conductive paths between the processor 4915,memory 4920, and the configurable block 4950. As shown in FIG. 49, theIC 4900 couples to a bus 4930, which communicatively couples the IC toother circuits, such as an off-chip memory 4925. Bus 4930 conceptuallyrepresents all conductive paths between the components of the IC 4900.

This processor 4915 can read and write instructions and/or data from anon-chip memory 4920 or an offchip memory 4925. The processor 4915 canalso communicate with the configurable block 4950 through memory 4920and/or 4925 through buses 4910 and/or 4930. Similarly, the configurableblock can retrieve data from and supply data to memories 4920 and 4925through buses 4910 and 4930.

Instead of, or in conjunction with, the system on chip (“SoC”)implementation for a configurable IC, some embodiments might employ asystem in package (“SiP”) implementation for a configurable IC. FIG. 50illustrates one such SiP 5000. As shown in this figure, SiP 5000includes four IC's 5020, 5025, 5030, and 5035 that are stacked on top ofeach other on a substrate 5005. At least one of these IC's is aconfigurable IC that includes a configurable block, such as theconfigurable block 4950 of FIG. 49. Other IC's might be other circuits,such as processors, memory, etc.

As shown in FIG. 50, the IC communicatively connects to the substrate5005 (e.g., through wire bondings 5060). These wire bondings allow theIC's 5020-5035 to communicate with each other without having to gooutside of the SiP 5000. In some embodiments, the IC's 5020-5035 mightbe directly wire-bonded to each other in order to facilitatecommunication between these IC's. Instead of, or in conjunction with thewire bondings, some embodiments might use other mechanisms tocommunicatively couple the IC's 5020-5035 to each other.

As further shown in FIG. 50, the SiP includes a ball grid array (“BGA”)5010 and a set of vias 5015. The BGA 5010 is a set of solder balls thatallows the SiP 5000 to be attached to a printed circuit board (“PCB”).Each via connects a solder ball in the BGA 5010 on the bottom of thesubstrate 5005, to a conductor on the top of the substrate 5005.

The conductors on the top of the substrate 5005 are electrically coupledto the IC's 5020-5035 through the wire bondings. Accordingly, the IC's5020-5035 can send and receive signals to and from circuits outside ofthe SiP 5000 through the wire bondings, the conductors on the top of thesubstrate 5005, the set of vias 5015, and the BGA 5010. Instead of aBGA, other embodiments might employ other structures (e.g., a pin gridarray) to connect a SiP to circuits outside of the SiP. As shown in FIG.50, a housing 5080 encapsulates the substrate 5005, the BGA 5010, theset of vias 5015, the IC's 5020-5035, the wire bondings to form the SiP5000. This and other SiP structures are further described in UnitedStates patent application entitled “Programmable System In Package”,filed concurrently herewith attorney docket number TBUL.P0030.

FIG. 51 conceptually illustrates a more detailed example of a computingsystem 5100 that has an IC 5105, which includes one of the invention'sconfigurable circuit arrangements that were described above. The system5100 can be a stand-alone computing or communication device, or it canbe part of another electronic device. As shown in FIG. 51, the system5100 not only includes the IC 5105, but also includes a bus 5110, asystem memory 5115, a read-only memory 5120, a storage device 5125,input devices 5130, output devices 5135, and communication interface5140.

The bus 5110 collectively represents all system, peripheral, and chipsetinterconnects (including bus and non-bus interconnect structures) thatcommunicatively connect the numerous internal devices of the system5100. For instance, the bus 5110 communicatively connects the IC 5110with the read-only memory 5120, the system memory 5115, and thepermanent storage device 5125.

From these various memory units, the IC 5105 receives data forprocessing and configuration data for configuring the IC's configurablelogic and/or interconnect circuits. When the IC 5105 has a processor,the IC also retrieves from the various memory units instructions toexecute. The read-only-memory (ROM) 5120 stores static data andinstructions that are needed by the IC 5110 and other modules of thesystem 5100. The storage device 5125, on the other hand, isread-and-write memory device. This device is a non-volatile memory unitthat stores instruction and/or data even when the system 5100 is off.Like the storage device 5125, the system memory 5115 is a read-and-writememory device. However, unlike storage device 5125, the system memory isa volatile read-and-write memory, such as a random access memory. Thesystem memory stores some of the instructions and/or data that the ICneeds at runtime.

The bus 5110 also connects to the input and output devices 5130 and5135. The input devices enable the user to enter information into thesystem 5100. The input devices 5130 can include touch-sensitive screens,keys, buttons, keyboards, cursor-controllers, microphone, etc. Theoutput devices 5135 display the output of the system 5100.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 51, bus 5110 also couples system 5100 to otherdevices through a communication interface 5140. Examples of thecommunication interface include network adapters that connect to anetwork of computers, or wired or wireless transceivers forcommunicating with other devices. One of ordinary skill in the art wouldappreciate that any other system configuration may also be used inconjunction with the invention, and these system configurations mighthave fewer or additional components.

While the invention has been described with reference to numerousspecific details, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatthe invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit of the invention. Thus, one of ordinary skill in the artwould understand that the invention is not to be limited by theforegoing illustrative details, but rather is to be defined by theappended claims.

1. A configurable integrated circuit (“IC”) comprising: a) a first setof a plurality of circuits; b) a second set of a plurality of circuitsinterspersed among the first set of circuits, wherein each of the setsof circuits includes at least ten volatile configurable circuits,wherein the volatile configurable circuits comprise volatileconfigurable interconnect circuits; c) wherein a plurality of circuitsin at least one of the sets are multiplexers, wherein each particularmultiplexer has input and output terminals and has a set of selectterminals for receiving a set of user-design signals that directs theparticular multiplexer to connect a set of the input terminals to a setof the output terminals, wherein a plurality of user-design signals aresupplied to a plurality of select terminals through a plurality ofvolatile configurable interconnect circuits; and d) wherein saiduser-design signals are signals generated internally by the IC.
 2. Theconfigurable IC of claim 1, wherein said volatile configurable circuitsinclude volatile configurable logic circuits.
 3. The configurable IC ofclaim 2, wherein the user-design signals are signals generated by thevolatile configurable logic circuits.
 4. (canceled)
 5. (canceled)
 6. Theconfigurable IC of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the circuits are inan array.
 7. The configurable IC of claim 6, wherein the first andsecond sets of circuits form two interspersed arrays.
 8. Theconfigurable IC of claim 6, wherein the array has at least fiftycircuits.
 9. The configurable IC of claim 6, wherein the array has atleast three hundred circuits.
 10. The configurable IC of claim 6,wherein the multiplexers are part of the array.
 11. The configurable ICof claim 6, wherein the multiplexers are interspersed in the array. 12.The configurable IC of claim 6, wherein the array further includesnon-configurable circuits.
 13. The configurable IC of claim 1, wherein avolatile configurable circuit is a configurable circuit that hasconfiguration data stored in a volatile memory.
 14. The configurable ICof claim 1, wherein the user-design signals are not configuration datafor configuring the configurable circuits, said configuration datasupplied from outside of the IC.
 15. The configurable IC of claim 1,wherein a plurality of the configurable volatile circuits are forreceiving configuration data, storing the configuration data in avolatile storage, and configurably performing a plurality of operationsbased on the stored configuration data.
 16. The configurable IC of claim15, wherein the volatile configurable interconnect circuits are forconfigurably performing a plurality of connection operations based onthe stored configuration data.
 17. The configurable IC of claim 15,wherein a plurality of the configurable volatile circuits areconfigurable logic circuits for configurably performing a plurality offunctions based on the stored configuration data.
 18. A configurableintegrated circuit (“IC”) comprising: a) a first plurality ofconfigurable circuits interspersed among a second plurality ofconfigurable circuits, wherein the first and second pluralities ofconfigurable circuits each include at least ten configurable circuits;b) a plurality of multiplexers interspersed among the configurablecircuits, each multiplexer having input and output terminals, and havinga set of select terminals for receiving a set of select signals thatdirect the multiplexer to connect a set of the input terminals to a setof the output terminals; c) said configurable circuits including aplurality of volatile interconnect circuits for supplying signalsgenerated by the IC to the select terminals of a plurality of themultiplexers.
 19. The configurable IC of claim 18, wherein configurablecircuits are in an array.
 20. The configurable IC of claim 19, whereinthe multiplexers are part of the array.
 21. The configurable IC of claim19, wherein the multiplexers are interspersed in the array.
 22. Theconfigurable IC of claim 19, wherein the array further includesnon-configurable circuits.
 23. An electronic device having: a) a memoryfor storing configuration data; b) an integrated circuit (IC)comprising: a first plurality of configurable circuits interspersedamong a second plurality of configurable circuits, wherein the first andsecond pluralities of configurable circuits each include at least tenconfigurable circuits; a plurality of multiplexers interspersed amongthe configurable circuits, each multiplexer having input and outputterminals, and having a set of select terminals for receiving a set ofselect signals that direct the multiplexer to connect a set of the inputterminals to a set of the output terminals; said configurable circuitsincluding a plurality of volatile interconnect circuits for supplyingsignals generated by the IC to the select terminals of a plurality ofthe multiplexers.
 24. (canceled)
 25. An electronic device having: a) amemory for storing configuration data; b) an integrated circuit (IC)comprising: i) a first set of a plurality of circuits; ii) a second setof a plurality of circuits interspersed among the first set of circuits,wherein each of the sets of circuits includes at least ten volatileconfigurable circuits, wherein the volatile configurable circuitscomprise volatile configurable interconnect circuits; iii) wherein aplurality of circuits in at least one of the sets are multiplexers,wherein each particular multiplexer has input and output terminals andhas a set of select terminals for receiving a set of user-design signalsthat directs the particular multiplexer to connect a set of the inputterminals to a set of the output terminals, wherein a plurality ofuser-design signals are supplied to a plurality of select terminalsthrough a plurality of volatile configurable interconnect circuits; andiv) wherein said user-design signals are signals generated internally bythe IC.
 26. A configurable integrated circuit (“IC”) comprising: a) afirst set of a plurality of circuits; b) a second set of a plurality ofcircuits interspersed among the first set of circuits, wherein each ofthe sets of circuits includes at least ten volatile configurablecircuits; c) wherein a plurality of circuits in at least one of the setsare multiplexers, wherein each particular multiplexer has input andoutput terminals and has a set of select terminals for receiving a setof user-design signals that directs the particular multiplexer toconnect a set of the input terminals to a set of the output terminals;and d) wherein said user-design signals are signals generated internallyby the IC and are not configuration data for configuring theconfigurable circuits, said configuration data supplied from outside ofthe IC.
 27. The configurable IC of claim 26, wherein said volatileconfigurable circuits include volatile configurable logic circuits. 28.The configurable IC of claim 27, wherein the user-design signals aresignals generated by the volatile configurable logic circuits.
 29. Theconfigurable IC of claim 26 further comprising: volatile storageelements for receiving and storing the configuration data supplied fromoutside of the IC, wherein a volatile configuration circuit is aconfigurable circuit that receives configuration data from a volatilestorage element.
 30. An electronic device having: a) a memory forstoring configuration data; b) an integrated circuit (IC) comprising: i)a first set of a plurality of circuits; ii) a second set of a pluralityof circuits interspersed among the first set of circuits, wherein eachof the sets of circuits includes at least ten volatile configurablecircuits; iii) wherein a plurality of circuits in at least one of thesets are multiplexers, wherein each particular multiplexer has input andoutput terminals and has a set of select terminals for receiving a setof user-design signals that directs the particular multiplexer toconnect a set of the input terminals to a set of the output terminals;and iv) wherein said user-design signals are signals generatedinternally by the IC and are not configuration data for configuring theconfigurable circuits, said configuration data supplied from outside ofthe IC.
 31. The electronic device of claim 30, wherein said volatileconfigurable circuits include volatile configurable logic circuits. 32.The electronic device of claim 31, wherein the user-design signals aresignals generated by the volatile configurable logic circuits.
 33. Theelectronic device of claim 30, wherein the IC further comprises:volatile storage elements for receiving and storing the configurationdata supplied from outside of the IC, wherein a volatile configurationcircuit is a configurable circuit that receives configuration data froma volatile storage element.
 34. A configurable integrated circuit (“IC”)comprising: a) a first set of a plurality of circuits; b) a second setof a plurality of circuits interspersed among the first set of circuits,wherein each of the sets of circuits includes at least ten volatileconfigurable circuits, wherein a plurality of the configurable volatilecircuits are configurable interconnect circuits for receivingconfiguration data, storing the configuration data in a volatilestorage, and configurably performing a plurality of connectionoperations based on the stored configuration data; c) wherein aplurality of circuits in at least one of the sets are multiplexers,wherein each particular multiplexer has input and output terminals andhas a set of select terminals for receiving a set of user-design signalsthat directs the particular multiplexer to connect a set of the inputterminals to a set of the output terminals; and d) wherein saiduser-design signals are signals generated internally by the IC.
 35. Anelectronic device having: a) a memory for storing configuration data; b)an integrated circuit (IC) comprising: i) a first set of a plurality ofcircuits; ii) a second set of a plurality of circuits interspersed amongthe first set of circuits, wherein each of the sets of circuits includesat least ten volatile configurable circuits, wherein a plurality of theconfigurable volatile circuits are configurable interconnect circuitsfor receiving configuration data, storing the configuration data in avolatile storage, and configurably performing a plurality of connectionoperations based on the stored configuration data; iii) wherein aplurality of circuits in at least one of the sets are multiplexers,wherein each particular multiplexer has input and output terminals andhas a set of select terminals for receiving a set of user-design signalsthat directs the particular multiplexer to connect a set of the inputterminals to a set of the output terminals; and iv) wherein saiduser-design signals are signals generated internally by the IC.